San Diego musicians will band together to help Bob Wilson with benefit at Music Box

Bob Wilson has had an illuminating impact on the San Diego music scene, first as lighting director at the Bacchanal for seven years, then at other area venues for more than two decades.

Now, it’s Wilson who requires a spotlight.

Since suffering a stroke last year, he’s been living with various friends, but the number of friends able to put him up has all but dried up.

Or, as Wilson recently put it in an online post: “I'm not homeless. I know where my home is, here in O.B.; I'm houseless! I want to avoid being a street person.”

To help him back on his feet, the Beat Farmers, The Schizophonics and two other bands will perform a benefit for Wilson — organized by San Diego radio mainstay Michael Halloran — Wednesday at the Music Box.

The Beat Farmers sang Wilson’s praises in a recent GoFundMe post, writing: "Bob always made it happen. He made The Beat Farmers look good! It couldn't have been very easy, but he'd click the stage lights on and suddenly we were beautiful! He always helped us out, and now we're happy to help him!"